I was able to unload my 99 Dodge Durango (aka the largest money pit on earth) and walked out with a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. It has 43k miles on. Ive only put about 70 miles on it since this afternoon, but Im totally in love. Just wanted to say whats up to my new TDI brotha's.

Also as a note, and this may be posted in the FAQ, how do you change the batteries in the remote. The only one they had for this car doesnt seem to work. I may have to buy a new one (or two), but would like to try to swap the batteries first.

You can get the radio remote part synchronized without going to the dealer, but the other part of the key uses a passive security component that needs to be recognized by the immobilizer in the instrument cluster.

As of the past several months, VW has gone to a system where the car needs to be plugged into their computer system and be programmed at the dealership...

Thats not gonna happen. When i started the deal at the dealership, we discussed getting a new key. By the time I finished the deal (them being highly pissed because of my highly unnegotiable attitude) they werent willing to give me another. Either way, I got the original key to work fine; I have the Valey key; I guess Ill just buy another one later on.

keep an eye on e bay for the fob same numbers as your origional one and I had a place somewhere in new york that sold the blades, they can be cut at a local locksmith then the dealer can reprogram all keys, alot less $ that way, will post the link to the blade when I find it

I Love Love Love my new car. This thing kicks so much ass, I cant even begin to say it. It is fun to drive, and gets fantastic mileage. I filled up the tank on Saturday at a cost of $36 and change. Since then I have put on abut 175 miles, and the fuel guage is just squeeking by the 3/4 tank mark. Thats gonna put me well into 600 miles on this tank.